DRAGONS LOSE OUT TO LEINSTER

The Dragons good start to the season was abruptly stopped in Dublin as the reigning Heinken Cup Champions Leinster put their visitors to the Irish sword, but not without a determined fight.

By Joe Crocker

The Dragons good start to the season was abruptly stopped in Dublin as the reigning Heinken Cup Champions Leinster put their visitors to the Irish sword, but not without a determined fight.

Leinster scored their first try after 15 minutes through Andrew Conway and although the Olympics may have finished, Usain Bolt wuld have been impressed with Steffan Jones long range dash to bring the Dragons back into the game with an interception try.

Ben Marshall scored Leinster's second try of the game before the referee thought that constant infringements by the Dragons should be punished by being reduced to 14 men and Nathan Williams was sinned binned late in the first half.

HT 26-10

Leinster continued to pile on the pressure straight from the kick-off and scored two quick tries from Shane Jennings and Fionn Carr to really finish the game off as any competition although Prydie's 52nd minute try gave them some hope of a possible bonus point, further reinforced as the Dragons closed the gap when Dan Evans crossed over and placed the ball under the posts.

A last minute try for Leinster (Brendan Macken) was unfortunate for the Dragons and really wasn't just reward for the fight they actually showed. 18 points from Leinster ouside-half Ian Madigan and the two tries conceeded when down to 14 men was the main difference in the teams.

FT 45-25